Patrick.Bateman

Team/Player Instructions

I’m not interested in some super tactic that turns some Sunday amateurs in Champions League winners. I doubt if it exists but if it does, I don’t want to know about it, it would destroy my pleasure.

I’m just interested in a decent detailed explanation of all team and player instructions because the manual isn’t explaining all.

I’m talking about things like:

Tackling

•Soft – Select this option when…
.........oYou play friendly matches
.........oYou’re winning with 3 goals difference
.........oFor individual players when they received yellow and the referee is a card lover
.........oFor individual players who are injured and when all your subs are used

•Medium – Fits for most matches
•Hard – Select this one when…
.........oThe referee is a nice guy and isn’t showing cards a lot.
.........oThe other team is counting some aggressive individuals

So I want to know, what to use when. Partly I really know this and I don’t think a well documented manual dealing this topic already exists. That’s why, I’m writing one on my own.

Now, I can use some help, so my obvious question is:

Do you have nice links or forum postings about this issue?

backpackant

I only use soft tackling when a player is on a card or warning.

I use hard tackling when i'm chasing the game and set everyone to "closing down". It's a gamble, but it seems to unsettle the opposition. Arsenal are notorious IRL for buckling under this type of pressure, as Bolton fans will attest.

Patrick.Bateman

@backpackant,

So many managers, so many opinions of course.

But IMHO and from what I found on several forums/websites, you should tackle soft whenever it is possible and ‘safe’.

It makes sense, because your players will statistically receive fewer cards.
Also don’t forget that every single tackle is a risk. The player who is performing the tackle can be injured as well.
The harder one tackles, the higher the risk…

If you’re already winning with 5 – 0, I don’t see any advantages to keep your tackling on hard.

backpackant

I usually set tackling to medium which mostly seems to be enough. If I have a midfielder on a yellow and I'm 3-0 up with ten mins to go I'll sub him if I can.

But I see your point. In fact, will try that when I play again.

Only now I might have jinxed it. Doubt I'll be 3-0 or 4-0 up for some time

knap

I run a holiday season with medium and hard tackling, only noticeable difference was card tally went up.

Certain players such as Gerrard appear to pick up a lot of reds with hard tackling.

I used to find in FM07 more injuries to Forwards on soft, so tend just to use medium unless chasing a game.

FrazT

Have a look in the Unofficial Tactics Bible and FAQ threads at the top of the Tactics Forum as most of this is explained in there

Frame

I use easy tackling when managing a national team on opposition players who play for my club team.

glamdring

The number of occasions I am "already winning with 5-0" are a miniscule proportion of my total matches! It's true I have had the odd player sent off in those circumstances, but the overwhelming majority of red cards I see in 5-0 matches are the losing side losing their rag - it's very rare I've had a man sent off when 5-0 up.

Personally I never use soft tackling under any circumstances at all because I already see way too many occasions when my players seem to just let an opponent go past way too easily.

Patrick.Bateman

The number of occasions I am "already winning with 5-0" are a miniscule proportion of my total matches! It's true I have had the odd player sent off in those circumstances, but the overwhelming majority of red cards I see in 5-0 matches are the losing side losing their rag - it's very rare I've had a man sent off when 5-0 up.

Personally I never use soft tackling under any circumstances at all because I already see way too many occasions when my players seem to just let an opponent go past way too easily. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Glamdring,

If the enemy seems to return and it is 5-2 or 5-3 put it back on Medium or Hard.

In the few thousand games I played it was very very rare that any team could win a game when it was 5-0 behind.

It's not only cards, but think about injuries as well.

glamdring

Yeah, but it depends what level of micro-management you are into. Some games I am constantly tweaking my tactics mid-game, but most games I can't be bothered with such minutiae, I just accept any red cards or injuries that come along...(and then swear at myself for not having eased my team off a little and vow to do so next time, a vow which is promptly consigned to the dustbin of no longer caring by the time the next occasion arrives :p ).